Thursday, May 29, 2008

Happenings

There has been a lot going on in the Clement household lately. With the end of school drawing near, we have been pretty busy. I am ready for the summer months where I can spend devoted time to my husband and my wonderful kids! We have enjoyed playing outside and on one such occasion, we received a visit from an interesting friend. The kids had come inside for a water break and I happened to look out the window and saw a pretty large turtle coming into our yard. Never missing an opportunity to teach, :) , I grabbed my kids and led them outside to look at the turtle. As we got closer I knew this was not a huge box turtle. He lowered his head and was real still. Then I saw the tail- that was all I needed to think it was a snapping turtle- a huge one at that!! So I sent Caleb inside to get Matt, and we tried to figure out what to do with it. Wile Matt kept the kids inside, I went to our neighbors and asked her if this had ever happened. She and her children came out and we all decided that we would get him in a bucket and take him to the large lake nearby, rather than the pond at the front of the subdivision. So Matt got the bucket and I decided to pick him up from behind to get him in the bucket. Let's just say that it was confirmed that it was definitely a snapping turtle and he hit the ground HARD!! Matt prodded that sucker in the pickle bucket for what seemed like forever and I promise I have never heard a turtle hiss and snap so much. Once we got him in Matt and Ray, another neighbor, went and dumped him in the lake. Now when we drive by it the kids look for the snapping turtle. (on a side note, when I came back over with my neighbor Amy, Riley freaked that the turtle was going to eat me and about busted every ones eardrums inside! Protective little thing!) Here is a portrait of our not so mice friend...



One of my projects that I tackled was getting rid of the evergreen bushes in front of the house. Two of them had died and Linda had come down and dug them out for me. So one day I went and bought some plants to put in and give our yard some color. They should fill in nicely as they grow. So far, they have made it for a month and a half and I haven't killed them. I think that is a record!!




A new favorite pastime in this house is playing Rock Band. Matt and I have so much fun with it and the kids have enjoyed it too! Caleb is really good at keeping up on the drums. Ian strums great, but hasn't gotten the buttons down- to far to stretch. Riley sang twinkle, twinkle to Smashing Pumpkins- It was classic! :)


There will e more updates to come. I have my last full day tomorrow, and graduation tomorrow night, but I will try to get on here and post more pictures from Caleb's preschool graduation and from Ian's birthday. I also have some pictures of the students I taught this year. Have a happy Friday!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

my little 4 year old

So he isn't really little anymore, but he will always be to me. Today we celebrated Ian's Birthday with friends and family. He had a great time and really enjoyed all of his friends. We did a Star Wars theme, so you all know that he LOVED it! I will post some pictures soon, but I am downloading them from the camera. Here is my sweet boy through the years:









HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIL' MAN!!!! We love you bunches...

Thursday, May 08, 2008

WoW

Well, I finally did it. I activated my World of Warcraft account. I got turned on to it when I did a free trial back in January, but let it lapse due to the business of work. i enjoyed playing and Matt and I had fun. So here I go hoping that I can get in enough play time. I think my character is a level 12, so I have a really long way to go to catch up with my husband. If any of you reading play, maybe we can get on at the same time!

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

One week of 3

This week, there are only 3 of us here at the house. Matt is having a great time at the Java conference in CA, and Caleb is spending some one on one time with Lee and Linda. That leaves Ian, Riley and myself home. We have been fairing OK, with daddy and Caleb gone. Ian has been a model citizen at preschool with out the brotherly conflict, and Riley has been completely undone at times for missing her daddy. She saw a truck like Matt's today when we left the park and she about busted my eardrums since she got her self in a panic that I was leaving Daddy behind. We have been keeping pretty busy though. Yesterday (Monday) we went to Opry Mills and walked around. WE visited the book store and picked out a few to read. Then they got to pick one to buy and take home. They had so much fun and behaved wonderfully!! Then today we went home and changed and met one of my co-workers, Carrie, and her 2 children who are in pre-k with the kids. We hit the park for a quick walk and then let the kids run amok on the playground. They had a blast and are already asking to go again.

Daddy, if you are reading this, we miss you and can't wait to talk to you and see you on Saturday!!

Caleb- have fun at grandmas and we miss you bunches!!!